Thursday, May 03, 2007

Thursday's Thoughts

The twins were here yesterday. They were in a hospital for 11 days. They do not weigh any more than the first time Troy saw them. I am concerned, I don't see how they can make it without round the clock professional care. Troy did what he could, but we're discouraged that the hospital did not keep them longer. The family keeps telling us the mom is not all there (mentally ill) and that they plan to raise the twins. They don't seem to get how fragile the situation is. They came without any bottles and were unprepared to deal with the babies when they started crying. I have no idea how to convince them that if they want these babies to live they need to take it all more seriously. Keep these tiny little girls in your prayers.

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In the healthy baby department, Phoebe was 6 months old yesterday. She is amazingly chubby. She is serious about two things. Sleeping and eating. To think about how tiny most babies her age are in this country is a sad thing. Family + Love + Formula = Fat Happy Baby. I wish it could happen for ALL of these babies. My Uncle tells me I have a high desire for justice, and in a fallen world where justice is hard to come by, it is a frustrating thing.

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As we drove around the Twin Cities last week it was amazing to see all the growth and development. Everywhere we looked there was a new business, strip mall, or road being built. All of those changes happened since I had been in Minnesota in August of 2006. An entire huge grocery store was built, stocked and opened in less than eight months. Without exaggerating, I can tell you that you can leave Haiti for a few years and not notice any drastic changes. The U.S. Embassy is building a new building closer to the airport (leaving their downtown PAP location once the construction is complete.) That is probably the only major change or large construction project that has happened in the time we've been here, and that is funded outside of Haiti.

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Yesterday we caught up on laundry, nail clipping, hair cuts, and sleep. Noah kept demanding I open my eyes when I laid down with him at nap time. He said "Mama, YOOK at me, open your eyes!" (He still pronounces all "L's" as "Y's") He was very much working the system yesterday and playing on the fact that I had been gone. He had his back rubbed long and often and called the shots all day. How could I resist, he kept telling me "I Yove you Mama. I'm glad you came back."

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Today we are catching up on paperwork, bills, and correspondence. I also plan to remove all clothing that does not fit from my sight. I already found I made a critical error when shopping in MN. Because I forgot how to shop or think or be logical, I bought two pairs of maternity pants and no maternity shorts. I returned to Haiti to find that I do not want to wear pants when it is 90+ degrees. OldNavy.com to the rescue. We have a team coming on May 15 so they can easily bring some of the forgotten items in with them.

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Britt called yesterday. She sounded happy and was having fun. She will get to watch Chris compete a few time in some big swim meets, Britt and I both love competitive swimming and Chris is among the fastest swimmers in the USA so she is pretty excited to watch him race this week. Troy feels it important to be skeptical of any boy who has an interest in his daughters.

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He likes Chris a lot, but he won't admit it openly. He is taking a page from my Dad's play-book. My Dad pretty much gave Troy no grace until we had been married about two years. I believe when Troy asked to marry me my dad said "Well, there is nothing I can do to stop you." Not exactly a ringing endorsement. What he said to Troy on the wedding day was even harsher than that.

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Troy has decided to call Chris "Baywatch" as a way of poking fun at his swimmer/lifeguard/beach-guy persona. For Britt and Chris's sake I am glad Troy is generally a gentler, less curmudgenonly person than his father-in-law.

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And, for the record ... Dad now admits Troy came through with flying-colors and was indeed the best man for this job. We all agree.

Who we are...

To Reach Us: Livesayfamily@gmail.com - We live, learn, love, & work in Port au Prince, Haiti. In the twelve years we've been here, one thing we've learned: God is not made manifest in our ability to "fix" or heal, but in our need to be healed. Recognizing this weakness leaves us in a position of having little to offer. It reveals our own need to be restored. We are not fixers of people or things. We are here trying to extend love and grace to others, the way it has been extended to us.

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships - so that we may live deep within our hearts. May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people - so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace. May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war - so that we may reach out our hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in the world - so that we can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor. Amen. (Franciscan Benediction)

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